A Yoga aspirant when performs the practice of Asana, whether they do by their own or teach to the mass number of people, therefore their might be several aspect with doing by own or teaching Asanas through which teacher can guide to their students. Let’s see what those aspects are in terms of Yoga Asanas practices.  

We should distinguish the Yoga aspirant psychology for the research purpose and for well being. Thus we can capable and observe the aspects of doing Asana styles in modern days, along with its consequences on human body and mind. Many of us might come with expectation to study the Yoga Asanas with individual needs, but then how we will know that what is the right way, for instance; physically, therapeutically, technically, spiritually, professionally and so on so forth.

The spiritual characteristics of practicing Asanas

I must say that it is a holistic and genuine approach of practicing and teaching Yoga Asanas. Therefore it requires the modern and Yogic science both with its Anatomical, Physiological, psychological, Pranological (Yogic science) and mechanical understanding along with human body and mind. Thus the teacher and student both of them can have foundational and mechanical understanding of Yoga Asanas  with human body and mind, it doesn’t matter while teaching to people or doing by their own.

Though it is not so easy to have a spiritual understanding for the neophyte, because they have been practicing flow Asanas, topsy turvy, jumping, wishing to do some difficult posture, which is only one of the beginning stage in Asanas. Though it is not the fault of students because they are blank paper, it does all begins from the teacher, that we all choose and if the teacher is ignored then what to say. Therefore I think the beginning stage is the right time, where people can learn the holistic approach of Yoga Asanas and avoid Yoga injuries and physical sufferings in future. Thus learn from the competent teachers, as these days’ large numbers of newcomers (Yoga teachers) and Yoga styles are in trending and branding, therefore the result is making fun to entertain people in the name of Yoga and spirituality.

So using a spiritual methodology with Asanas, there might be not so many Asanas or vice versa, can include some Joints movement exercise, classical Surya Namashkar, Mantra chanting, settling into the Asanas with holding, without causing muscles and joints soreness and therefore it can lead you to feel the spiritual sense with its calming, relaxing and soothing effects on both physically and mentally. 

Applying a such approach to Yoga Asanas might not have so much focus on alignment/ there could be for beginners and not creating unnecessary pressure on somebody’s body during the Asana practice, even though it does not means that Asanas will be simple or motionless and non-movement able, but demands your attention, calmness, encouragement and instruction from the competent teacher to have that spiritual essence within throughout the practice. The sequencing of Asanas can be fast, slow and in a holding manner depends on the class, purpose and age group.           

The moment we are used the term spiritual aspect in Yoga Asanas, it also leads to daily self practice of Asanas for phisio physiological and spiritual growth and thus we are known as Adhyatma Sadhana. Therefore aspirant must have patience and faith over the teacher instructions, which are given to an aspirant to follow at home or anywhere else.  

The Dynamism of Curative characteristics of Yoga Asanas

That’s true Yoga has been giving life to so many people in the world, by its curative, therapeutically approach and positive effects on disease in the human body and mind. The first time in the modern era, our spiritual masters came out with this thought that how to deal with inorganic leaving style in society, therefore they combined the ancient Yogic Science with Modern Scientific studies on human body and mind, so that we could understand the root cause of disease and cure it through Yoga Asanas, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, Meditation and life style. So far our Yoga Masters have been proving that Yoga can be used as an alternative therapy and gradually can decrease the Modern medicine and avoid physical surgery for the patient. Remedial approach of Yoga is the amalgamation of creating methods along with understanding of root cause of disease and mechanism of Asana, Pranayama, Relaxation and life style, so that it can find the place and attack the disease from the root, gradually. 

The research studies on Yoga have been showing us, that Yoga can improve health; gives symptomatic relief and regular practice can eradicate the disease and brings balance and harmony between body, senses, mind and soul. The disease are known which can be treated through Yogic science; Arthritis, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, corrects the body alignment, Irregular Menses, Endometriosis, Parkinson, Constipation, Gastritis, Migraine, Insomnia and so on. Therefore the research studies have also proved the improvement of health and given life for the malignant diseased patient known as HIV and Cancer. The Yoga therapy these days are based on with ancient methods and life style with modern science and Yogic tools. 

The physical aspects of Yoga Asanas over flexibility, strength and beauty

We are having no doubt that Yoga Asanas has been playing the tremendous role in gaining elasticity, strength, looks physically younger and leads to longevity. But then the thing is thereafter what? When an aspirant gains enough flexibility and strength? Definitely the answer will be given regular practice of Yoga Asanas is required to sustain the physical and mental health in a harmony. Therefore practicing Asanas is amazing, but I would like to emphasize on some points for physical lovers, Yoga is also known as Santulan (balance), the balance between strength and flexibility, body and mind, intelligence and ego, nature and self.

Read More: Hatha Yoga : Introduction 

If the balance  is not maintained, knowingly or unknowingly and one is more than the other, then also it can lead to the imbalance and disorder, thus we have been seeing these days, a lot of people are in Yoga having degenerative joints and asymmetry muscular issues, for Instance; wrist pain, back pain, knee pain, neck pain and so on so forth. Why we don’t want to understand, that physical body also has its limit as per individual and when we use body parts over and over, without understanding of science and physical mechanism, and then it has to be weekend, tear and wear and therefore disharmony between the systems has to take place. 

I think this is what; our Yoga Masters have been emphasizing to their aspirant and given us the whole ocean in the pot, in terms of do’s and don’ts. But in this modern era, the new generations have been growing up with rootless culture and non-observances of the law of nature. So therefore now it’s a responsibility of the Yoga Teachers on this generation to share the organic Living styles, individual limits physically and mentally, teaching Asanas based on scientific instructions to their people. 

We wish this article shall be the eye opener for all kind of Yoga Asana students and teachers, throughout the Yoga world. Bipin baloni have wrote and publish this article based on his personal Asana practice, studied guidelines from the ancient Yoga texts, received instruction from teachers and following sincerely with satisfaction, after meeting with thousands of Yoga practitioners nationally and internationally, have been doing workshops on Asanas and conducted hundreds of teacher training program in Rishikesh, Kerala, Nepal and overseas.